Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Tabl e 1 . 2 .
Evidence used to reconstruct environmental change. (Adapted from
Williams et al.,
1998
and Williams,
2011
.)
Proxy data source
Variable measured
Geology and geomorphology-continental
Relict soils
Soil types; isotopic composition of pedogenic
carbonate concretions
Lake level; varve thickness; facies changes;
mineralogical composition; geochemistry
Mineralogical composition; surface texture;
geochemistry; provenance
Stable isotopic composition; geochemistry
Lakes and lake sediments
Eolian sediments: loess, desert dust,
dunes, sand plains
Speleothems, tufas
Geology and geomorphology-marine
Ocean sediments
Accumulation rates; fossil planktonic
assemblages; isotopic composition of
planktonic and benthic fossils
Mineralogical composition; surface texture;
geochemistry; provenance
Provenance; assemblage composition
Coastal features; reef growth
Continental dust; fluviatile inputs
Biogenic dust: pollen, diatoms, phytoliths
Marine shorelines
Glaciology
Mountain glaciers; ice sheets
Glacial deposits and features of glacial
erosion
Periglacial features
Glacio-eustatic features
Layered ice-cores
Terminal positions
Equilibrium snow-line
Distribution and age
Shorelines
Stable isotopic composition; physical
properties (e.g., ice-fabric); trace element
and microparticle concentrations
Biology and biogeography-continental
Tree rings
Ring-width anomalies and density; isotopic
composition
Type; relative abundance and/or absolute
concentrations; age; distribution
Type; assemblage; abundance
Refugia: relict plant and animal populations
Phylogenetics; phylogeography
Fossil pollen and spores; plant
macrofossils and microfossils;
vertebrate fossils; invertebrate fossils:
mollusca; ostracods; diatoms; insects
Modern population distributions
Molecular biology and genetics
Biology and biogeography-marine
Diatoms; foraminifera; coral reefs
Abundance; assemblage; trace element
geochemistry; oxygen isotopic composition
Archaeology
Written records; plant remains; animal
remains, including hominids; rock art;
hearths, dwellings, workshops;
artefacts: bone, stone, wood, shell,
leather
Age; distribution; morphology; provenance;
geochemistry
